Submitting images

1. What kind of images should I submit?
2. Does Alamy provide a wants list?
3. How do I submit images to Alamy?
4. What are the technical specifications of the images you require?
5. Why can't I use pre-printed labels on CDs/DVDs? It's very time consuming to have to write my name and email address on each one.
6. Can you please explain the workflow of my submissions through Alamy?
7. How do I know if you have received my submission?
8. How will I know if my images have passed through QC and are ready to keyword?
9. How will I know where my submission is in the system?
10. What reasons could there be for my images not ending up on the Alamy site?
11. Can you please explain the terminology you use to indicate the status of my submission?
12. Can you please explain the terminology you use to indicate the status of individual images in my submission?
13. How long does it take to upload my images?
14. What burning software should I use?
15. Will you scan my images for me?
16. Does Alamy caption and keyword my images?
17. How do I caption and keyword my images?
18. Does Alamy take IPTC?
19. What is the pseudonym feature?
20. How do I submit releases to Alamy?
21. I have model releases, but not for 'sensitive issues'?
22. How do I add 'restrictions' to my images?
23. Why should I put 'no commercial value' on any packages sent to Alamy?
24. What happens if I apply insufficient postage to a package?

Submitting images

1. What kind of images should I submit?
   Alamy sells a diverse collection of subjects ranging from specialist areas like food, architecture, sports, reportage, wildlife to more general stock work covering lifestyle, business, travel and concepts so contributors are not limited in the content that they can send in and the markets we sell into are global from both advertising and editorial sectors.
   
   We put an emphasis though on quality, relevance, and creativity and we strongly recommend that contributors edit submissions thoroughly, include their best selling images and most recent and contemporary work (unless its an archive).
   
   Lifestyle images that are very commercial in style with identifiable persons but without signed releases are not likely to sell. Also avoid sending too many similars but pick the best versions including a landscape and portrait version where relevant. If you are submitting new travel material on a country/region or a specific topic, then it can be worth checking to see if similar material already exists in the Alamy catalogue to prevent duplication.
   
   For commercial usage we recommend more conceptual, innovative shots which reflect the prevalent human condition. Unusual or more obscure subject matter is also worth sending in as this kind of material is not generally available online. In conclusion adding regular submissions of tightly edited quality images to your collection will be more advantageous to your sales in the long run.
   
   
2. Does Alamy provide a wants list?
   Alamy publishes a monthly newsletter for all our registered contributors this has a regular feature on wants and trends.
   
   
3. How do I submit images to Alamy?
   Please read the image submission guidelines for detailed information. Your images will be rejected if they do not comply with the specifications. You must send an initial test CD of 10 Images, if our QC department passes this you can then become a contributor with Alamy.
   
   
4. What are the technical specifications of the images you require?
   Please read the image submission guidelines for detailed information and also our Quality control FAQs. We require images to be above 48Mb in size when uncompressed. Images of a smaller size (including those from digital cameras) must be interpolated up to 48Mb or above. We do make exceptions for reportage material which must be a minimum of 24Mb. We accept images as RGB Tiffs or JPEG Level 12 files. The following is a useful checklist:
   • Send RGB Tiffs or level 12 JPEG's.
   • Do not sharpen your images (this includes in-camera sharpening).
   • Don't include the film rebate.
   • Images should be scanned at the highest bit depth but then converted to 8 bit before submission.
   • Ensure you thoroughly check the images for dust, scratches and blemishes.
   
   
5. Why can't I use pre-printed labels on CDs/DVDs? It's very time consuming to have to write my name and email address on each one.
   In our high-speed drives, labels can easily become unstuck and cause damage to both the drive and the CD/DVD. Also, a label can unbalance a fast-spinning disk, making it unreadable - especially a DVD. We need your name and email address on each disk in order to track it through our system. Please write this info using a marker pen that will not damaged the disc.
   
   
6. Can you please explain the workflow of my submissions through Alamy?
   
   • Images arrive at Alamy.
   • They are checked in to our system.
   • We copy the images from your media (CD DVD, Harddrive).
   • We upload the images to our system.
   • Images are scrutinised by our QC team.
   • If images pass they are available for you to keyword.
   
   
7. How do I know if you have received my submission
   As soon as the images arrive and are checked in to our system you will receive an e-mail notification. You can also track the progress of your submissions in View submissions in My Alamy.
   
   
8. How will I know if my images have passed through QC and are ready to keyword?
   Once your submission has completed the submission process (whether successfully or unsuccessfully) you will receive an e-mail notification
   You can also track the progress of your submissions in View submissions in My Alamy.
   
   
9. How will I know where my submission is in the system?
   You can track the progress of your submissions in View submissions in My Alamy.
   
   
10. What reasons could there be for my images not ending up on the Alamy site?
    Images may fail because we cannot process them through our system, this may be for a number of reasons, common problems are forgetting the .TIFF or .jpg extension, poor quality discs, partially burned images and wrongly formatted images. Images may also fail at the QC stage because of technical quality problems. For further information, please see the tables below.
    
    
11. Can you please explain the terminology you use to indicate the status of my submission?
    
    

    Media status
    Media Received	Your images have been received at Alamy and are awaiting upload prior to Quality Control.
    Awaiting QC	Your images have arrived at Alamy, they have been uploaded to our system and are now pending Quality control, where the technical suitability of your images will be assessed
    Processing	Your images have arrived at Alamy, they are in the process of being uploaded to our system before they are passed to Quality control
    Unable To Process	Your images have arrived at Alamy, However we have been unable to upload them to our system. This could be for a number of reasons. Please check your workflow and resubmit. They have not reached the quality control stage.
    Cannot Read Media	Your images have arrived at Alamy however we cannot read the media (disc, DVD, harddrive etc). Your disc may have been empty. Please check your workflow and resubmit.
    Passed QC	Your images have been scrutinised by our QC team and as a result all images on the media have passed and are now available to keyword.
    Failed QC	Your images have been scrutinised by our QC team and as a result all images on the media have failed.
    Partially Failed	Your images have been scrutinised by our QC team and as a result at least one of the images have failed.

    
    
    
12. Can you please explain the terminology you use to indicate the status of individual images in my submission?
    
    

    Image status
    Image Processing Error	The individual image could not be copied or processed. This could be for a number of reasons, some of which are listed below: Scratches on the media - ensure you use strong, effective packaging and casing. Avoid putting more than one disc in each case. Images failed to copy due to corruption on the disc or within the file. Faulty burning process. Poor CD/DVD quality - we recommend that you use well known brands. We recommend that you try to copy a few images from the media that you are about to send to your computer before sending it. Please check the image at your end and resubmit.
    Failed QC	The Image has been scrutinised by our QC team but has failed Quality control. An asterisk (*) next to an image when viewing your submissions will indicate the reasons for the failure. Please note as we do not look at all images we will reject all images in a submission if we find recurring problems.
    Passed QC	Your image has passed QC and is available to keyword.

    
    
    
13. How long does it take to upload my images?
    Alamy endeavour to QC and upload your images so they are ready for Keywording within 14 working days (i.e not weekends and public holidays) of Alamy receiving your submission. If you are concerned about the progress of your submission in the first instance check View submissions in My Alamy.
    
    
14. What burning software should I use?
    There are many software packages available for burning CDs and DVDs, but we have found the following to be reliable:
    For PC users - the latest version of "Roxio Easy Media Creator"
    For MAC users - the latest version of "Toast"
    Both are available for trial and purchase at http://www.roxio.com.
    
    
15. How long does it take to upload my images?
    Alamy endeavour to QC and upload your images so they are ready for Keywording within 14 working days (i.e not weekends and public holidays) of Alamy receiving your submission. If you are concerned about the progress of your submission in the first instance check View submissions in My Alamy.
    
    
16. Does Alamy caption and keyword my images?
    No, its your responsibility to add the captions and keywords online, as well as the Model and Property release information and Licence type applicable to your images.
    
    
17. How do I caption and keyword my images?
    Once uploaded your images will be available for keywording. They can be found by clicking 'View images awaiting submission' under the heading 'Organise your images' once you have logged in. Please note these character limits:
    Caption = 128 character limit
    Keywords = 856 character limit
    Description = 3000 character limit
    
    
18. Does Alamy take IPTC?
    We do accept IPTC headers. If you have added keyword or caption information to your images using the IPTC standard (a feature available in many image editing tools), Alamy Images will only include information from the IPTC 'Caption' and 'Keyword' fields in our search engine. Please note these character limits in the Alamy database:
    Caption = 128 character limit (including spaces)
    Keywords = 856 character limit (including spaces)
    Please note:If you exceed the caption limit in your IPTC info then we will place the full IPTC 'caption' in our Alamy 'description field'. If you exceed the Keywords limit, our system will only take the first 856 characters, the remaining information will not be incorporated.
    
    
19. What is the pseudonym feature?
    The pseudonym is the name that appears alongside your images, independent of the name we use to pay and communicate with you. This allows you the option of branding your work under distinct names and also allows agencies to identify the individual photographers they represent. This defaults to your name on registration.
    
    
20. How do I submit releases to Alamy?
    There is no need to submit paper or digital model or property releases. It is important that if you do have them however, that they are readily available if as a result of a customer query Alamy requests to see them. You must let us know they exist when you start adding the keywording and licensing information, once your images have uploaded to your account. To do this, follow the links under the heading ,'Organise your images', once you have logged in - there is a box under the column 'model release' and one under the column 'property release' next to each image - you must check these boxes if you have the relevant releases.
    
    
21. I have model releases, but not for 'sensitive issues'?
    If your images are Licensed images you must add in a restriction that reflects how the images cannot be used.
    
    
22. How do I add 'restrictions' to my images?
    You may need to add a restriction on an image, this could be because the picture has been sold for an exclusive by yourself or another third party you are working with or you may want to block certain usages on ethical /moral grounds. To do this, Log in on the site, find your image, on clicking on the image details you will have a button to 'edit image' (as the owner of the image only you will see this button). You will be presented with a number of 'tabs'. The 'License details' tab is where you can add restrictions to an image.
    
    
23. Why should I put 'no commercial value' on any packages sent to Alamy?
    In order to avoid any customs, or import tax associated with goods entering the UK its important that you state the value is 'no commercial value'. If you do put in a value (usually larger than £10) Alamy will recharge any costs we incur to your account.
    
    
24. What happens if I apply insufficient postage to a package?
    Firstly, you run the risk of the package never arriving at alamy, if it does arrive but we are charged for the shortfall in postage Alamy will again recharge your account.